Balloonist near auto that's crashed (8)
I believe the answer is:
aeronaut
'balloonist' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'near auto that's crashed' is the wordplay.
'that's crashed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'near'+'auto'='nearauto'
'nearauto' with letters rearranged gives 'AERONAUT'.
(Other definitions for aeronaut that I've seen before include "Early traveller by air" , "Pilot, flier" , "Balloonist" , "Someone who operates an aircraft" , "Space pilot" .)